New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto took a step forward last season by cutting back on the mental errors that marked the first two seasons of his career. Now, GM Glen Sather is betting the young defenseman will apply the same maturity to contract negotiations.

“He’ll come to his senses,” Sather told reporters Sunday at a charity function, via the Bergen Record. “We’ve been down this road before with guys that just have come out of their entry-level contracts. We’ve offered him a fair contract. We just have to see if it changes in the new CBA.”

The NHL and NHLPA are negotiating—or attempting to negotiate, more accurately—a new collective bargaining agreement. Part of that negotiation, albeit a small one, is rules associated with restricted free agents such as Del Zotto.

Del Zotto, 22, had 10 goals and 41 assists last season for the Rangers after finishing 2010-11 in the AHL. He told the Record last week that he's staying prepared.

“I’m here, and I’m preparing for Sept. 21 training camp,” Del Zotto said. “All I can do is prepare for the start of the season, and the rest of the stuff is out of my control. I’ve been around a couple of years, I understand it’s a business. I’m preparing for the start of training camp.”

Owners have said they'll lock out players on Sept. 15 if no deal is reached. Sather said he's "always optimistic" about the situation.

“It’s out of my hands,” he said. “I’ve been down this walk a few times. I think it will play itself out one way or the other.”

Sather's words came at a fundraiser for local humane societies hosted by coach John Tortorella, who said his team is "chomping on the bit" to start camp.

“I just hope we keep on learning that this needs to be a partnership for this league to continue to flourish as it has as it keeps on growing, it needs to be partnership,” Tortorella said. “Coaches, we’re kind of caught in the middle, we’re not on either side. We just want to coach, we just want to get our players in and get to work.”